Can you recommend a brand? Did you install them yourself? Hardwired or wireless? Thanks for any help you can give me.
We have Lorex, purchased initially at Costco with additional cameras later bought directly from the company. Dh installed the cameras and dvr himself. The cameras are hardwired. We can access them on our computers as well as on our cell phones, but it appears that playback is only available on our computers.
Our cameras are not top of the line, but their image quality is still quite good. We only seem to be able to access about four or five days’ worth of old video, possibly because dh set the sensitivity pretty high and they captured every movement including trees moving in a breeze. However, at lower sensitivity they’ve missed things I wish they’d captured.
These cameras, and ones at previous homes, have paid for themselves. They’ve provided proof of multiple pest control/Sentricon, lawn service and other techs not doing their jobs. They’ve also provided proof that deliveries were not made as claimed (including some jewelry), that substitute mail carriers have thrown packages thereby damaging the contents, etc. We’ve also seen two potential burglars stop when they saw the camera signs we have posted on our fence gates. They tried to force a front or side door, then went around to a lower driveway heading toward the basement but left quickly when they saw the sign.
I’m looking for a camera that notifies you when it hears sound, not just motion, anyone have one of those?
I was thinking motion activation would be helpful, but one company is telling me it would be triggered constantly by small things.
We have Arlo, which we bought at Costco for something around $500 +/- for a three camera package. We’re happy with it, although birds will set off the notification.
Love, love, love my Wyses cameras with pan/tilt functionality for $37. They’re for indoor, but you can buy a case to put them outdoors. I don’t record, but you can if you add an SD card. Setup is super easy!
I have Arlo Pros all over the house. Need to change the battery every 3 months or so.
We have Arlo as well. Easy to set up and customize when they are activated, but yes, the batteries need to be changed regularly.
Regarding the Arlo, yes the battery life is short, but it should be noted that they’re rechargeable.
A camera has to be powered. Your choice is to either run a wire or change batteries. 
Yes I meant to say that the Arlo Pro needs to be charged every 3 months or so. The original Arlo cameras had disposable batteries, those lasted like one month and then change. if you buy, make sure you know the difference between Arlo, Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2. Netgear didnt do a good job with naming.
Everyone in my neighborhood have the Ring cameras.
We have the Google Nest Cam Outdoor and it alerts for sound or motion. And you can set the alerts so conversations or window breaking get sent and only when people walk into view and not the neighborhood cat. It also recognizes familiar neighbors.